S. 5102 – Closing Bribery Loopholes Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 31, 2026 at 5:41 AM UTC

The Closing Bribery Loopholes Act updates the federal bribery statute by broadening what counts as an “official act.” By clarifying that any decision or action on a pending matter—whether successful or not—falls under this definition, the bill aims to close gaps that allow bribery schemes to evade prosecution. It applies to all public officials and witnesses who could be bribed under the law.

Key Provisions

Expands the definition of “official act” to include any act within a public official’s duty, and any decision, recommendation, or action on any pending matter that could be brought before the official, including offers of pardons, commutations, or reprieves.
Specifies that an “official act” can be a single act, multiple acts, or a broader course of conduct, and it counts even if it does not achieve the intended result.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

July 23, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 23, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

July 23, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued July 23, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5102

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 23, 2026

Mr. Schiff introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify certain conduct that is prohibited for purposes of bribery of public officials and witnesses, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Closing Bribery Loopholes Act.

2.

Clarification of definition of official Act

Section 201(a)(3) of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

(3)

(A)

the term official act means any act within the range of official duty, and any decision, recommendation, or action on any question, matter, cause, suit, proceeding, or controversy, which may at any time be pending, or which may by law be brought before any public official, in such public official’s official capacity or in such official’s place of trust or profit, including any pardon, commutation, or reprieve, or an offer of any such pardon, commutation, or reprieve; and

(B)

for purposes of subparagraph (A), an official act—

(i)

may be comprised of a single act, more than one act, or a course of conduct to effect the official act; and

(ii)

may occur whether or not it successfully achieves a desired outcome.

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